Eclipse as seen from Tirana

[caption id="attachment_2625" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Eclipse as seen from Tirana, 20 March 2015[/caption]

Spring Day - Dita e Veres

Spring Day (we actually call it Summer Day) is celebrated every 14 March in Albania.

According to some sources, Dita e Verës derives from the Arbëreshë, an Albanian community that lives in Italy since the fifteenth century. On 14 March, the Arbëreshë of the Italian coast, collect a tuft of grass roots and soil, bringing it home to commemorate the anniversary of their emigration from Albania. In fact, some sources date back this celebration to the ancient Illyria. At that time, the feast was celebrated on 1 March, which according to the Julian calendar, corresponded to the first day of the year.

Smoke in the sky

[caption id="attachment_2548" align="alignnone" width="660"] Smoke in the sky[/caption]

Nothing serious, perhaps burning plastic or tires. Last time there was smoking in the sky, it was in 2008. Bad times... I remember I was at my fiancee's house, laying on the bed (doing nothing actually). Suddenly a thunder like sound and earthquake like tremors swept through for a fraction of a second. A couple of minutes later all TV stations stopped broadcasting their regular programs and there were breaking news about a large explosion some 15 km away.

Long story short, some 21 year old guy from The States had won a contract with Pentagon to supply Afghan troops with ammunition. Sneaky motherfucker that he was, came here and bought Chinese and Soviet ammunition that was being prepared for dismantling. And funny thing is that US forces had contributed monetary for the dismantling process. So, this guy and his Albanian counterparts (including ex PM's son) would sell to Pentagon the same ammunition Pentagon was paying Albanians to dismantle. Also, there is some sort of embargo against using Chinese and Soviet ammunition for American purposes. So they would repack it as Made In Albania and fly it to Afghanistan.

All this process was uncovered from a partner of the American guy, whom they pushed outside the business. Some time later he was found dead in an hunting accident but it is clear he got executed from ex PM's people.

This was a black page in Albania's history and the now-PM vowed to make things right. Unfortunately that was a political stunt and now, 7 years later, together with 26 souls, everything lays under the dusty mantle of  forgetfulness...

BunkArt - Conference Hall

"The aim of bourgeois-revisionist television is mass degeneration."

[caption id="attachment_2539" align="alignnone" width="660"] Conference Room[/caption]

This conference room was quite spacious, considering that you are underground and you have to traverse seemingly endless tunnels. The colored domes on the scene are bunker replicas. The hall has been used this New Year's eve for a TV show. Acoustics are not bad and the temperature is constant. Air vents are fully restored and if you don't suffer from claustrophobia, you should totally visit BunkArt.

Mineshaft

[caption id="attachment_2505" align="alignnone" width="660"] Mineshaft[/caption]

This is part of the "Politically Persecuted Victims of Communism" memorial in Tirana. There is also a bunker and a piece from the Berlin Wall.

Left or Right, it doesn't matter. There is no choice.

After leaving the fortress, we took the road to the seaside to see where the asphalt ended. We passed by a couple of snail farms and a nice restaurant which surprisingly didn't have snail based dishes. If you have a snail farm in front of you, is it difficult to put it in the menu? At least you'll be the first buying hand and the price will be too damn cheap! Anyways, as you can see, the road ended here and the sea was exactly 1 km straight ahead but we didn't went through. We took some photos and turned back home. Bought a sack of apples and potatoes at the guy I mentioned in my previous post. The apples were delicious but half of the potatoes were bad. Them crooks fill the sacks with half bad and half good potatoes, hence the cheap price. My mother had to throw half sack away.

During summer the road is enjoyable and the coast is very long, some 8-10 km with sandy beach. Beware though, there is no infrastructure like shops or restaurants. During high seasons there are canteens (food trucks) and even woody buildings that serve as restaurants but bring food and water with you, just to be safe.

Fog

Dervican, Gjirokaster, Albania

[caption id="attachment_2423" align="alignnone" width="660"] Dervican[/caption]

Coffee with Gods

[caption id="attachment_2387" align="alignnone" width="660"] Coffee with Gods[/caption]

We're still on the summit of Tomorr. The white background is actually clouds. Beware if you sit on the edge...

Sacrifices

The following images show animal sacrifice therefore consider yourself warned. 

If you can't sacrifice your own sheep or ram, you can buy one up here. Conditions in which the animals are kept, are not that good. Animals are also under constant stress since every minute there are sheep being slaughtered in open areas.

The view behind the hedge reminds the holocaust or the massacres of ISIS. Hundreds of animals get slaughtered each day and all their innards are just thrown down there. It smells like death and God knows what happens after Sunday when people leave the holy shrine for another year. I guess there begins the vultures feast.

The ritual demands blood and that you shall slaughter your own animal. That means no one feels responsible for the mess they leave behind. On the other hand, even if they want to clean up the mess, there are no garbage bins or whatever. Irresponsibility begins from the local government.



An artistic impression of the situation.



Someone slaughtered a lamb at the shrine's inner yard, on the east side. Maybe you must face the rising sun before you do the deed... Maybe, deep inside our subconsciousness, sun is the one true god.

Raindrops

[caption id="attachment_2298" align="alignnone" width="660"] Raindrops[/caption]

Raining Cats and Dogs

[caption id="attachment_2295" align="alignnone" width="660"] Raining Cats and Dogs[/caption]

Dhermi Village

The village of Dhermi, on the side of a mountain overlooking the Ionian sea. The beach at the feet of the mountain is one of the best in Albania. Beware of the prices though, very expensive for Albanian standards. The last years it hasn't been that clean as well. Garbage all around and trash bins full, if you managed to find any. Let's hope it will be better next year. The government is spending a lot to improve Albania's image and tourism income.

Gjipe Canyon

[caption id="attachment_2264" align="alignnone" width="660"] Gjipe[/caption]

I couldn't climb down the canyon for better photos but I will definitely do it sometime in the near future. The canyon leads to one of the most beautiful beaches of the Albanian coast. You can't drive down to the beach but there is a walking path which takes some 30 minutes from the parking place. The island seen in the background is the Greek island of Othonoi.

Fire

Driving back home, we drove past this burning van. Fortunately no one was hurt. Unfortunately the van was unsalvageable. Let's hope he had it insured against fire.

Up

Just like the movie, the old house is getting suffocated from the high buildings, albeit not skyscrapers, nor shopping malls.

Illegal building

[caption id="attachment_2223" align="alignnone" width="660"] Illegal building[/caption]

There was a time not many years ago (it continues even today but not in such scale) where everyone could build without permission. The bigger the building, the lesser the possibility of getting caught. However, from time to time, even the building inspectorate has to prove why it exists. Hence the half demolished building left scorching under the sun. The funny thing is that the inspectorate does this always before summer season. Like trying to show to as many people as possible what they are supposed to do. You might think it's logical from their point of view but, what if I told you that this building (and quite a lot others) has been laying just like this since 10 years ago?

10 years ago it looked like a war zone, like we were under a blitzkrieg or smth. Slowly people started cleaning the land but as you can see, it may take many years to do so...

Mussels Factory

[caption id="attachment_2192" align="alignnone" width="660"] Mussels Factory[/caption]

This is the view from Butrinti's fortress toward east. Butrinti lake is very famous for its mussels because it is a salty lake, connected to the sea. If you visit Saranda, mussels is a must taste dish. It should be cheaper than it is, due to proximity with this large scale cultivation but hey, this is a tourist destination, why not exploit them (the tourists) while it lasts?

End of the walls

[caption id="attachment_2189" align="alignnone" width="660"] End of the walls[/caption]

Walking around we reached the end of the city walls. Maybe they stretched down under the lake centuries ago...

Lion Gate

[caption id="attachment_2168" align="alignnone" width="660"] Lion Gate[/caption]

The Lion Gate, with the depiction of a lion devouring the head of a bull. My son got so impressed he didn't want to leave. My wife sat down and I took the time to take some photos.

Further info regarding the Lion Gate can be found here.